Doughnut machine



July 9, 1940. A. s. T. LAGAARD DOUGHNUT MACH INE Filed 001;. 50. 1939Alexander ST. Laaar Patented July 9, 1940 2,207,546 DoUGHNU'r MACHINEAlexander S. T. Lagaard, Minneapolis, Minn.,l assignor to Dough-King,Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.,` a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationOctober 30, 1939, Serial No. 301,993

12 Claims.

My invention relates to doughnut machines and particularly to controldevices for doughnut machines for controlling the travel of doughnuts toa doughnut turner or ejector of the continuous type such as disclosed inthe application for patent of Peter J. Toews, Serial Number 114,395, ledDecember 6, 1936.

An object of the invention resides in providing a device by means ofwhich the travel of doughnuts is positively and effectively controlled.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device which willoperate equally as effectively regardless of the size or shape of thedoughnuts.

An object of the invention resides in providing a device which will notcause jamming of the doughnuts in the way along which the doughnutstravel.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing engagingmeans for engaging the doughnuts and in constructing said 'engagingmeans in the form of a cradle.

An object of the invention resides in providing pivot means for saidengaging means, the axisy of said pivot member extending transversely ofthe way along which the doughnuts travel and in a horizontal direction.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the cradle with anarcuate abutment or engaging.

member extending transversely of the way and disposed in concentricrelation with respect to the axis of said pivot means.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing thecradle with a number' of longitudinally extending spaced bars connectedtogether at their ends.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the cradle with theforward portion thereof forming a slide along which the doughnuts travelin leaving the engaging means.

A feature of the invention resides in providing in the wall of thecooking kettle in which the control device is installed a circularsocket adapted to receive a disc to which the cradle is attached and bylmeans of which the cradle is A supported.

I In the drawing a portion chine A has beenillustrated, which consistsof 45 tion below the level of the cooking liquid upwardly to engage thedoughnuts, one of said members raising the doughnuts to cause the sameto move past the other engaging member.

v `Other objects of the invention reside in the 5 novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

'In the drawing:

-f Fig. 1 is a plan view cfa portion of a doughnut 10 machineillustrating an embodiment of my invention.

l1ig..2 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the 15` p-arts in alteredposition. y

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fie. 1.

In the application for patent of Peter J. Toews,

above referred to, a doughnut machine is dis- 20 closed in which thedoughnuts are deposited in a'cooking liquid contained in a kettle orreceptacle'A providing a way along which the doughnuts may travel and inwhich the doughnuts are progressed through propulsion of the cookingliquid. 25

In this way are disposed a turner and an ejector both of the continuoustype which are adapted toturn or eject the doughnuts any time thedoughnuts reach the same. With such device it becomes necessary toprovide some means for 3 of; la doughnut maa kettle I0 having a waywl Iinthe same. This kettlefcontains theA cooking liquid the-level of whichkis indicated bythe reference numeral l2 in Figs'. 2 and3. ,Thecookingliquid travels in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 2, and 50causes the progression of the doughnuts along the way, thev doughnutsfloating upon the surface ofvthecooking liquid. L y y f'The, kettleIIJ,v to formnthe Away II, is const'ruct'edwithl side wells I3 and I4and a bottom 55 I5 connected therewith. Adjacent the side wall I3 isanother side wall I6 which constitutes one of the side walls of anadjacent run of the way II. Where the run of the way II, in which theinvention is used, is disposed at the edge of the machine the lowermostportion of the wall I6 may be dispensed with. The walls I3 and I6 areconnected together at their upper ends through a top wall 31.

The invention proper comprises 4engaging means I1 constructed in theform of a cradle,

as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This engaging means has a forwardportion I8, an intermediate portion I9 and a rearward portion 2I. Thetwo portions 2| and I8 incline toward the intermediate portion I9 andgradually merge linto-the same.V` These portions form an engaging memberwhich has been indicated by the reference numeral-20. The engagingmember 2Il of the cradle f1 is conf structed with a number oflongitudinally 'extendi ing bars 22, 23vzand 24. Bars 22 and 24 aredisposed at the sides of the cradle, while the bars 23 are disposedintermediate the bars 22 and 2,4. The bars 23 are fairly closely spacedand are separated some distance from the vbars `22 and 24, as willbecome apparent from Fig. 4. v4The forward ends of the forward portionI8 of cradle I1 includes a transverse bar 25 which connects all of thebars 22, 23 and 24 together. In a similar manner a transverse bar 26, atthe rearward portion 2i of the cradle, connects all of the bars 22, 23and 24 together.

The cradle I1 is mounted for rocking movement in the following manner:Formed in the side wall I3 is a circular recess 21 in which is receiveda disc 28. Disc 28 is supported by a shaft 29. Shaft 29 has formed on ita flange 3I which is received within the recess 21. This ange is securedto the disc 28 by means of screws 32. The bar 22 of the cradle I1 hasformed on it a flange 33. This flange overlies the' disc 28 and issecured to said disc by means of rivets 34, In

this manner the cradle is rigidly supported on thel disc 28 whichtravels in close proximity to the edges of the wall I3 formed by therecess 21.

Between the two walls I3 and I6 is provided a transverse wall 35 whichforms a pocket 36 between said vwalls. This pocket is open at the topand opens through the wall I3. The top wall 31, which connects 'thewalls- I3 and I6 together eX- Y tends up to the wall 35 and thus closesthe uppermost portion of the kettle between the walls I3 and I6exteriorly of the pocket 36. The portion of the kettle I0 at the pocket36 is closed by means of a cover 38. Cover 38 overlies the portions of Ythe wall 31 beyond the pocket 36 and is secured thereto by means ofscrews 39 threaded into said wall 31. The recess 21 formed in the wallI3 is partly closed by means of two ears 4I attached to the cover 38,ywhich ears have curved surfaces 42 Alying in continuation of the edgesof the recess -surface of the wall I 3 of the kettle and nts closely tothe edges of the recess 21.

By means of the recess 21, Vpocket 36 communicates with the way II sothat all of the cooking liquid entering said pocket may drain outbetween the disc 28 and the edge of the recess 21, back into the way II, when the machine is being drained of cooking liquid.

The disc 28 is oscillated by means of an arm 48 which extends outwardlyfrom said disc. Arm 4B operates within a groove 54 in the cover 38.'This arm has pivoted to it at 49 a link 5I, which link is reciprocatedby the transmission of the doughnut machine. Inasmuch as anyconstruction, such as that shown in the Toews application for patent maybe used for reciprocating the link 5I, the same has not been illustratedin this application.

At the rearward end of the cradle I1, as best shown in Fig. 2, isprovided an abutment 52 which constitutes another engaging member. Thisabutment is arcuate in form and is concentric with the axis ofthe shaft29. The abutment 52 consists of a number of extensions 53 of the bars22, 23 and 24, which extensions are connected together at theirlowermost ends bymeans of a connecting bar 51.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the arm 48 is at therearward end of the groove 54, as shown in Fig. 2, the forward portionI8 of the engaging member 2D of cradle I 1 extends upwardly in inclinedrelation, as illustrated. In Fig. l2 two doughnuts 55 and 56 have beenshown. Due to the arrangement of the cradle I1, the doughnut 55 engagesthe forward portion I8 of 'said cradle and travel of the doughnuts alongthe way is obstructed. When the arm 48 is oscillated by means of link5I, the cradle I1 is rocked and the rearward portion 2I of the cradle israised untilthe cross bar 26 thereof engages the doughnut v55 near itsrearward end. 'Ihis tilts the doughnut until lthe same `occupies theposition shown in Fig. 3. As the arm 48 reaches the forward end of thegroove 54, the front end of the doughnut 55 slides off from the forwardportion I8 `of the cradle and the rear end of the doughnut downwardlyalong the rearward portion 2I of the cradle. As this occurs the doughnutfioats away from the cradle and is progressed through the ow of thecooking liquid beyond the engaging member. At the Vsame time therearward portion 2| of the cradle I1 is raised, also the abutment 52 iselevated which is brought into a position to engage the doughnut 56, asshown in Fig. 3.

When the arm 48 is moved to the position shown in mg. 2, the abutment 52is disengaged from the doughnut 56 and the same permitted to advance tothe position occupied by doughnut 55 in Fig. 2i It will thus be seenthat only one doughnut at a time is allowed to pass through the controldevice, the same operating to obstruct the travel of the followingdoughnuts. Inasmuch as the cross'bar 26 of the cradle I1 engages thedoughnuts to be released at a locality rearwardly of the forward end'thereof, it will become apparent that the operation of the inventiondoes not depend upon the size of the doughnuts nor is it necessary forthe engaging member 52 to enter vbetween the doughnuts as is the casewith the structure shown in the application of Peter J. Toews, abovereferred to. Thus the invention will operate equally as etciently withany size or shape of doughnut within the limits now adopted for themarket.

My invention is highly advantageous. The clevice is extremely simple andhas but the single operating member for producing the desired results.The device being disposed below the level of the cooking liquid andoperating from below the doughnuts will not clog the machine and willnot allow the doughnutsto pile, one upon `the other, or to otherwise jamin the machine.

nor unattractive structures exposed Withthe interior of the machine.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybemade within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

l-Iaving described my invention, what I claim as now and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a doughnut machine in which thev doughnuts are progressed along away through the now of the cooking liquid, engaging means disposed belowthe level of the cooking liquid, means forming a pivot for said engagingmeans, the axis of said pivot extending in a horizontal directiontransversely of the way and intermediate the forward and rearward endsof said means, and means for oscillating said member about said pivotmeans.

2. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle extendingtransversely of the way, means forming a pivot for said cradle, the axisof said pivot extending across said cradle intermediate the forward andrearward ends thereof and transversely of said way in a substantiallyhorizontal direction, and means for rocking said cradle.

3. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the :Elow of the cooking liquid, a cradle having forward andrearward portions inclining toward the center and extending transverselyof the way, means forming a pivot for' said cradle, the axis of saidpivot extending across said cradle intermediate the forward and rearwardportions thereof and transversely of said way in a substantiallyhorizontal direction, said' cradle being disposed with the intermediateportion thereof below the level of the cooking liquid, the forward andrearward portions thereof upon rocking of the cradle being adapted toalternately move upwardly and to obstruct the travel of doughnuts alongthe way, and means for rocking said cradle.

4. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the flow' of the cooking liquid, a cradle having forward andrearward portions inclining toward the center and extending transverselyof the way, means forming a pivot for said cradle disposed inter-`mediate the forward and rearward portions thereof and extendingtransversely of said way in a substantially horizontal direction, saidcradle being disposed with the intermediate portion thereof below thelevel of the cooking liquid, the forward and rearward portions thereofupon rocking of the cradle being adapted to alternately move upwardlyand to obstruct the travel of doughnuts along the way, said forwardportion forming a slide along which the doughnuts slide olf from thecradle when the cradle is rocked, and means for rocking said cradle.

5. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle having forward andrearward portions inclining toward the center and extending transverselyof the way, means forming a pivot for said cradle, the axis of saidpivot extending across said cradle intermediate the forward and rearwardportions thereof and transversely of said way in a substantiallyhorizontal direction, said cradle being disposed with the' intermediateportion thereof below the level of the cooking liquid, the forward fandrearward portions thereof upon rocking of the cradle being adapted toalternately move upwardly to obstruct the travel of doughnuts alongvthe'way, an'abutment on the rearward end of said cradle adapted toengage the doughnuts when the rearward end of the cradle is upper'-most, and means rocking the cradle.

6. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the ward and rearward portions inclining toward the centerand extending transversely of the way, means forming a pivot for saidcradle, the axis of said pivot extending across said cradle intermediatethe forward and rearward portions thereof and transversely of said wayin a substantially horizontal direction, said cradle being disposed withthe intermediate portion thereof below the level of the cooking liquid,the forward and rearward portions thereof upon rocking of 'flow of thecooking liquid, a cradle having forthe cradle being adapted toalternately move upwardly and to obstruct the travel of doughnuts alongthe way, an abutment on the rearwardvend of said cradle adapted toengage the doughnuts when the rearward end of the cradle is uppermost,said abutment being arcuate in form and concentric with the axis of saidpivot, and means for rocking the cradle.

7. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the flow of the cooking liquid, a cradle extendingtransversely of the way, said cradle having a forward portion, arearward portion and an intermediate portion, said forward and rearwardportions inclining toward the intermediate portion, a pivot for saidcradle, the axis of said pivot extending `above said intermediateportion and parallel with said forward and rearward portions and saidaxis extending transversely of the way in a substantially horizontaldirection, and means for rocking said cradle.

8. In a doughnut machine having two wallsv and a bottom and forming away for the reception of cooking liquid and in which the doughnuts areprogressed through the ow of the cooking liquid, a circular pocket inone of said walls, a disc in said pocket, means forming a bearing connedwithin said wall for supporting said disc for rotation within saidpocket, a cradle attached to said disc and projecting-transversely ofsaid way, and means for rocking said disc and cradle about the axis ofsaid bearing.

9. In a doughnut machine having two walls and a bottom and forming a wayfor the reception of cooking liquid and in which the doughnuts areprogressed through the flow of the.

cooking liquid, a circular pocket in one of said walls, a disc in saidpocket, means forming a bearing confined within said wall for supportingsaid disc for rotation within said pocket, a cradle attached to saiddisc and projecting transversely of said way, an arm projectingoutwardly from said disc and a link pivoted to said arm for oscillatingsaid disc about the axis of said bearing to rock said cradle.

10. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the now of the cooking liquid, a cradle extendingtransversely of the way, said cradle consisting of a number of barsextending in the direction of extent of the way, means forming a pivotfor said cradle, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of saidbars and transversely of said way, and means for rocking said cradle.

11. In a doughnut machine having two walls and a bottom and forming away for the reception of the cooking liquid and in which the doughnutsare progressed through the ow of the cooking liquid, a pocket in one ofsaid Walls opening laterally of the wall and into. said Way, a disc insaid pocket closing the same, means `forming a bearing conned withinsaid Wall and supporting said disc for rotation, doughnut engaging meanscarried by said disc and projecting transversely of the way, and meansfor moving said disc about the axis of said bearing to procure operationof said engaging means.

12. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along away through the flow of the cooking liquid, a pivoted member having anaxis extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the Way, twospaced engaging members carried by said pivoted member and disposed oneforwardly of the axis thereof and the other rearwardly of the axisthereof, said members being adapted to be alternately moved frompositions below the level of the cooking liquid and upwardly toalternately engage the doughnuts and release the doughnuts one at a timeand means for oscillating said pivoted member about its axis.

ALEXANDER S. T. LAGAARD.

